FLY For Your LIFE

JUNE & JULY    ~    *BOOK OF THE MONTH*

There are some aviation books that are so rare and highly sought after by collectors
from all over the world that it would be unfair to sell such a book on a ‘first come’ basis. 

Therefore, each calendar month, Spitfire Books is offering a rare book for sale
and invites collectors to submit a ‘best offer’ during the month by email or telephone

Signed on the title page by

Wing Commander RR ‘Bob’ Stanford Tuck

Frederick Muller Limited First Edition, 1st impression 1956. 367 pages.  Frontispiece portrait and 30 photos.

Fine condition hardback book in blue boards and with gilt titles on the spine.  Internally it is  bright and clean with a solid binding. Some tanning to the rear end paper but the front is clean. Near Fine condition unclipped 2nd impression dustjacket with one small closed tear on the rear panel. An excellent flat signed copy of this book. 

With 29 victories, eight probables and six damaged, Bob Stanford Tuck was one of the greatest fighter aces of WWII though his combat career only lasted 18 months from Dunkirk to January 1942 when he was shot down by ground fire in northern France.  Imprisoned in Stalag Luft III, he escaped eastwards, because he was a Russian speaker, and joined the advancing Soviet troops.

This is the authentic, enthralling tale of a man who deservedly became a hero and had more than his share of hairsbreadth escapes. He survived two mid-air collisions, baled out four times, crash landed several times and ditched in the channel; on various occasions enemy fire set his aircraft ablaze, shattered his windscreen, blew the throttle lever out of his hand and flipped the oxygen mask off his face. So phenomenal was his luck that he became known as ‘The immortal Tuck’. 

One of the classic Battle of Britain books and this is a particularly good signed copy.  A fabulous addition to any aviation book collection.